Minimum coverage auto insurance in Jacksonville, the most populated city in Florida, averages $2,275 per year, or around $190 per month, while the average cost of a full coverage policy is $3,171, or $264 per month. We found that Jacksonville’s car insurance costs vary significantly depending on your driver profile, background and, most importantly, your insurer.

Cheapest for minimum liability

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Cheapest for drivers with an accident

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Cheapest minimum auto insurance in Jacksonville: Geico

The Jacksonville insurer with the cheapest minimum liability policy is Geico with an average annual cost of $1,136. An alternative insurer you should obtain a quote from is State Farm, which is only $130 more expensive, on average, than Geico. A minimum auto insurance policy is the lowest amount of coverage a driver must obtain to legally drive in the state.

Florida has the second most expensive minimum insurance policy and the fifth most expensive full coverage policy in the country. Jacksonville, like many densely populated cities, has insurance rates that are higher than the state average.

Given the high insurance price tags, drivers may decide to purchase the minimum amount of coverage to save money. However, this may not be the best option for your needs. A minimum liability policy covers the cost of damages to other people's property as well as medical expenses for you and your passengers. It does not offer coverage against damage to your own vehicle, which means you can still end up spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars as a result of an accident.

Cheapest insurer for a full coverage policy: Geico

Geico not only has the cheapest minimum liability coverage but also the most affordable full coverage policy. Its full coverage policy is only $533 more expensive than its minimum coverage policy. The second cheapest insurer, State Farm, has a full coverage policy that is $449 more expensive than Geico’s but is still cheaper than Florida’s and Jacksonville’s average.

Full coverage includes coverage of your vehicle, while minimum coverage serves to cover other drivers’ vehicles. A full coverage policy is more expensive than a minimum cost policy because it includes comprehensive and collision coverage. To quickly summarize what each type of coverage gives you:

We recommend you invest in additional coverage or higher limits if your car is less than 10 years old or worth more than $3,000.

Cheapest insurance company for young drivers: Geico

Young and new drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident than older drivers. Insurers see young drivers as high-risk and, as a result, charge higher insurance premiums for coverage.

The insurance company that offers the cheapest rates for the average 18-year-old driver is Geico with an average annual premium cost of $3,187. The next most inexpensive option you can find in Jacksonville is Direct General, which is priced, on average, at $3,832 annually.

If you find that rates are still too expensive after comparing multiple large insurers, there are additional steps you can take to obtain cheaper coverage:

Cheapest rates for drivers with an accident history: State Farm

Any driver who’s been in an accident knows how much it affects insurance costs.

State Farm increased prices the least after an accident, with a $382 difference. Geico, the company with the cheapest full coverage and minimum coverage policy, increased prices by an average of $715. Direct General is another option to check out. Although it isn't as inexpensive as Geico or State Farm, its price hike was less than $1,000.

Best insurance company for customer service in Jacksonville

It’s not enough to just have the best prices. You should also look for insurers that offer quick and transparent customer service. In our survey, companies rated the highest in customer service typically had fast response times, a 24/7 claims center or helpful representatives.

According to our survey of customer satisfaction, the Jacksonville insurance company with the best service ratings is Allstate with 64% of policyholders stating that they are satisfied with their customer service experience. A close second is State Farm, with 59% of customers being satisfied with their experience.

Best auto insurers in Florida by complaints

In addition to our survey, we examined the feedback collected by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which measures customer service by the frequency of customer complaints. The Jacksonville companies with the best customer service based on NAIC’s complaint index are Amica,Farm Bureau, Southern-Owners and Progressive.

Average rates by Jacksonville neighborhood

Crime rates, population density and accident rates vary by neighborhood, resulting in insurance prices that can vary by over $300 depending on where you reside.

Residents of Downtown Jacksonville, the city’s business district and one of the most expensive areas, had auto insurance quotes that averaged $2,387 per year. Mayport, the cheapest area of Jacksonville and one of its smallest areas, had an average insurance cost of $2,099 — a $288 difference.

Auto theft statistics in Jacksonville

Despite being the largest city in Florida, Jacksonville has a car theft rate lower than many highly populated areas of Florida, including Miami and Tampa. The city reported 1,240 cars stolen in 2019, or approximately 137 cars for every 100,000 vehicles.

Car insurance companies in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Tampa auto insurance market is dominated by Geico, Progressive and State Farm, which together write over 50% of direct premiums.

There are unique benefits to being insured by a small insurer over a larger company. Drivers insured under small insurers will be able to communicate with one agent, exclusively, and will likely have a personalized experience. Large insurers, on the other hand, lack the personal touch of small companies but offer more discount and coverage options.

Minimum auto insurance requirements in Jacksonville, Fla.

Auto insurance minimums are set by each state. Most states require drivers to have a certain level of coverage in order to legally drive. Florida law requires all Jacksonville drivers to meet the following requirements:

Although the minimum liability policy is the cheapest option, it may not sufficiently meet your individual needs. If you get into an expensive accident, the damage to your car will not be covered under a minimum policy and you will have to pay out-of-pocket costs. Always consider your background and individual needs before deciding whether to purchase more or less coverage.

No-fault state

Florida is one of 15 no-fault states in the U.S. No-fault insurance requires insurers to provide coverage for medical costs regardless of who is at fault in an accident.

PIP covers up to 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost income if you are unable to work, with a combined limit of $10,000. PDL reimburses property damage to other drivers' vehicles in an accident, with a limit of $10,000.

Drivers found to be at fault in an accident can still be sued if the accident resulted in serious injuries or death. It’s recommended that you have bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage to protect yourself from a lawsuit.

Florida's financial responsibility law: SR-22 and FR-44 policies

Drivers convicted of driving without insurance or driving under the influence will be required to hold additional coverages and higher coverage limits under Florida's financial responsibility law. You will need to buy SR-22 or FR-44 insurance.

SR-22 insurance requirements

SR-22 is an auto insurance policy with an SR-22 endorsement. If you’re determined to be a high-risk driver, you will be asked to file SR-22 insurance in order to have your driving privileges reinstated. SR-22 insurance requires:

These coverages will reimburse you for bodily injury caused to other people involved in an accident for which you are at fault.

FR-44 insurance requirements

Like an SR-22 policy, an FR-44 policy is a car insurance policy with an FR-44 endorsement. Jacksonville residents convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are required to obtain an FR-44 certificate. FR-44 coverage requirements are higher than the requirements of no-fault minimum coverage or SR-22 certificates. Specifically, FR-44 insurance requires:

Methodology

We analyzed quotes from six insurance companies located in Jacksonville, Fla. Our sample driver is a man who owns a 2015 Honda Civic EX, has a poor credit history and is searching for a policy that meets Florida’s minimum auto insurance coverage requirements. During instances where we explicitly state he is looking for a full coverage policy, the following limits were applied:

ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.